head is spinning

jessiesmom1 said:

Ultrasound terms
Here is some information I found on the terms your doctor mentioned.

"A HYPOECHOIC mass is a lump which appears relatively darker on an ultrasound scan, because it reflects fewer ultrasound waves. The significance of this finding varies depending on the context. Some tissues normally reflect more or less ultrasound waves than others. When part of an organ changes to reflect more or less ultrasound waves than usual, with the result that it appears brighter or darker than the surrounding tissue, this could indicate an area of disease. Sometimes an entire organ could appear more or less bright than it would normally in comparison with other organs, and this could also be a sign of illness."

"Ultrasound works by sending out high frequency sound waves which bounce off tissues. A probe sends out the sound signals, and the reflected echoes are captured and transformed into a black and white image displayed on a screen. What are called HYPERECHOIC areas tend to return more waves, while HYPOECHOIC regions return relatively fewer waves. Where sound waves pass through water, there are usually no reflected waves and the area appears black, or ANECHOIC."

Your mammogram report includes many technical details, and one section will show you a Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) score. This indicates the radiologist's opinion of the absence or likelihood of breast cancer.

A BIRAD score of 3 means the mass is Probably Benign and Findings that have a high probability of being benign (>98%); six-month short interval follow-up. A BIRAD score of 4 means there is a Suspicious Abnormality and Not characteristic of breast cancer, but there is a reasonable probability of being malignant (3 to 94%); biopsy should be considered.

I hope this was of some help to you.

IRENE

carrie61 said:

6 months toooo long
I will speak from personal experience. I had 6 month mammos for a period of 2 yrs to "watch" an area that appeared to be "benign calcifications." It was cancer. By the time they ordered a biopsy it was invasive carcinoma stage 2B. Mastectomy & chemo followed. It could have been a simple lumpectomy if caught early. I would suggest you demand further investigation. We have to be our own advocates.

jessiesmom1 said:

Making yourself crazy
Having been there myself I can understand your worry about the breast lump but you are going to make yourself crazy before anything even happens. There are a number of different kinds of biopsies and you do not even know which kind you are going to have. You haven't even met with the surgeon. The types of breast biopsies include (but may not be limited to): fine needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy,stereotactic core needle biopsy, and excisional biopsy. It is also possible that the lump is an inflamed/infected lymph node but you will not know until it is biopsied. You are doing everything right by consulting a surgeon and not just sitting around for 6 months while whatever it is grows. Once you and your surgeon decide what needs to be done you can discuss anesthesia and pain management. I have had an excision biopsy and a fine needle aspiration as well as an ultrasound guided core needle biopsy. Only the excision biopsy was done under general anesthesia.

Let us know how it goes.

IRENE

Jobi said:

This is not a silly question!
Hello,

Your situation sounds exactly like mine. I found the lump, waited a little, and then went to the doctor. I was then told to have a mammogram; however, since I have very dense breasts, an ultrasound was also done. When the doctor saw that it was not fluid filled, a biopsy was ordered. The doctor found that the lump was cancerous. Later after an MRI, two other areas were found that the mammo and ultrasound did not pick up. I am not saying this to scare you, but to urge you to push for more action. I hope this helps.